Preserve space when hidden (Symbol instance) doesn't work

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1

Sketch 2025.2. When using Symbol instances, “Preserve space when hidden” override doesn’t work.

  • To replicate, create a symbol with “Preserve space when hidden” off
  • Create an instance
  • Turn on “Preserve space when hidden” for some item.
  • Hide the item.

You can also check this in the latest iOS 26 library. Add a Navigation Bar and hide a trailing button. Title in the nav bar will expand to take all the space - even if you turn on “Preserve space when hidden” for the button.

Pretty please, don’t wait with this fix to the next major version :folded_hands: I’m working on iOS 26 redesigns and this bug makes this harder.

2

Hello @kris!

Thanks for reporting. We’ve been discussing and trying to reproduce this behaviour to no avail, sorry.

Could you send a sample file that has a symbol exhibiting this problem? If you can also record a super quick video (covering the entire Sketch window) showing the process of “Preserve space when hidden” not working, that would be great to determine any detail that could be causing this issue.

We suspect that this could be related to checking this box in a Source Symbol in an incorrect nested level, or perhaps related to the moment when the instance was created. A visual clue will help us identify the issue :folded_hands:

3

preserve_space.sketch (5.7 MB)

Hi, Jorge. Sure, no problem. Here is the video you wanted and an example Sketch file.

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4

Hi @kris !

Thank you so much for the sample file and the video. It is helping a lot to determine the root of the issue. Rest assured, we’re studying it and we’ll fix it soon.

Thank you again :person_bowing:

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5

Example of a situation where hiding a symbol (PricePrefix) in the stack decides on its own whether to take up space or not :slight_smile:

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6

If I remember correctly, if “preserve space” is ON on the Symbol level, it works. If OFF and you turn it ON on the instance level it doesn’t work.

In your case this could maybe be also because of text alignment and direction inside the layout stack?

7

Hi @kris and @Treword!

Yes, it is exactly as kris says. The workaround now would be to check the Preserve when hidden box in the source symbol level, rather than on a instance of said symbol, even if that instance is nested in another symbol source.

We’re working on a solution for this issue. Sorry for the inconvenience! :person_bowing: